Frat activity halted at UM-Ann Arbor amid assault, hazing allegations

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor’s Interfraternity Council, a student-run governing organization, suspended all Greek Life social activities following a long list of sexual misconduct allegations, reports of hazing and drug use.

The Michigan Daily first reported the decision by the IFC late Thursday evening.

All social events for the campus’ 27 fraternities have been halted, as well as a stoppage of pledging new members.

In addition to the sexual misconduct claims that involve fraternity brothers, allegations surrounding the decision include six incidents of reported hazing, including three specific cases in the last week where fraternity members had been put in “near-death situations.”

Over 30 students were transported to a hospital during the weekend of the Michigan-Michigan State game, and, according to the Daily, seven more were taken over Halloween weekend.

The Daily adds that “multiple allegations of drugging members in undisclosed fraternity chapters” contributed to the IFC’s decision to halt social activity.

Mixers and date parties will be banned under the suspension according to the Daily, as well as initiation activities for new pledges or general brotherhood meetings with alcohol present.

“As an Interfraternity Council community, we believe in holding our members to a high standard at the University of Michigan. It has come to our attention that some members of the Interfraternity Council community have not been living up to these standards,” IFC Executive Vice President Alec Mayhan said in a statement issued late Thursday night.

“In the interim, we are suspending all social activities and new member education programs. We will be working with our national organization partners to ensure that our programs are in alignment with our policies and values.

“We will immediately begin the process of assessing our policies and practices and developing a formal plan going forward.”

The University of Michigan’s Office for Institutional Equity reported that there were 80 sexual assault cases reported between July 2015 and June 2016, down from 97 reported incidents a year earlier.

The North-American Interfraternity Conference backed the decision of the IFC chapter.

“At Michigan, we are seeing students take responsibility for their community, showing commitment to student safety and peer governance,” spokeswoman Heather Kirk said in a statement. “This is an important step, and the NIC strongly supports students working in concert with the university, national fraternity organizations, and other important stakeholders toward a safer U-M community.”